Hi Mike and Emma Hope you are slowly but surely getting there... may I make some comments/suggestions that you may or not take on board, but hopefully it may at least give you some ideas/options... Going through a new build ourselves at the moment, and for what it's worth, here's what I personally think: A. Work with what you've got: - additional plumbing work, gas work etc may not be necessary and (particularly gas) can be costly when you're trying to work around existing walls, floors, etc, and as much as possible utilise the existing connections... after whatever you can save here and there, you can spend on nicer cabinetery, gadgets, finishes, etc :) B. Avoid unnecessry structural work: - removing the kitchen/living wall is a must (more space, light, etc) but removing the laundry wall is an unncessary added cost (may even require costly additional strutural support) - putting up a plastered wall on the other hand is inexpensive, allows you to redefine different zones and relocate doors/openings where required (*note: avoid hinged doors in small spaces as you have to allow for wasted space to open door - suggest cavity sliding doors, easy to incorporate in a new wall) C. Don't sacrifice functionality and natural light for design - love full height floor to ceiling cabinets, very much on trend... but they also tend to bring the walls in, which you want to avoid in an already small space... they will also block out more natural ligtht from the only window to the living and breakfast bench (meals area)... not to mention seated guests would be staring at a cabinet tower and fridge - on the other hand a walk in pantry (not that much of a walk in a small space) is also very much on trend, provides more storage and... as entertaining guests in open plan livings tends to happen more in the kitchen... it provides a good hiding place for unsightly items, including frigges... (an underbench bar fridge in the kitchen can easily keep those beers cold... though do consider that means sacrificing some cabinet space) - constantly wiping off the floors from dripping wet dishes across the kictchen from the sink to the dishwaser on the other side bench would personally drive me mad after a while... the dishwasher can easily be connected to the existing sink water and waste points through the cabinerty... any half decent plumber should be able to do that... ON THAT NOTE... or should I say those notes... I know I got a bit carried away :) ... if it were me, here's an idea of what I would try to achieve ...

So many questions from my point of view. The furniture all looks a bit squashed. Is it correct that you want a circular kitchen island bench, or do you mean to place stools around an overhanging bench in the kitchen? The raised section near the dining table would have to be removed, or are you planning a new Kitchen? What is happening down the other end beyond the small mat? is this an entrance from a deck or back garden, or does the room venture further? If you are to change your sofas, make sure they are sympathetic with the new chairs and as the chairs look a plain creamy colour, should go with most fabrics or leathers. Due to the room not being over spacious, be careful not to select furniture on the larger scale. Have a look at Jardan furniture and Globe West, both these organisations have great furniture at not too exorbitant dollars. Arthur G steps up the ladder, made in Melbourne. I would prefer you started with the dining furniture, as this is quite cottagy moving forward with your new armchairs. The dresser too - although you could paint this an interesting colour so as not to apologise for it's heritage, again with the new chairs. Hope this assists, but a floor plan would help me.

my suggestion would be to keep the new kitchen in proportion to the size and scale of the whole house so i prefer option 2 with cabinets only as high as the top of the window, tall narrow fridge (less than 80cm wide) next to the back door with wall mounted mw and wall cabinets all round, no tall cabinets, more counter on the fridge wall then stove, sink and dw along the window wall to make sure that there is counter on either side of the stove and sink and locations for a toaster, kettle and other appliances..but exact location of appliances depends on budget and sizes of all the cabinets you want to use.. but, if you plan to remove gas in future, why not start with electric appliances and best insulation ready to add solar power at a future date? ...eg check out the electric air sourced hot water heaters and consider an electric flame heater for the kitchen fireplace and save the gas heater for the hew rear living area although it may be possible to have one heater with hot air connected to the other rooms with an in roof ducting system and, if you have long term plans to alter the rear lean-to research options for renovating the whole house and then plan all the work in stages...eg i would have the new laundry/bathroom next to the refurbished bedroom (master suite?) and have the future new rear living area with the north aspect

You have a complex set of requirements that won't be adequately addressed in an online forum of opinions. In addition the photo of the style of kitchen that you like is in a much larger space than you have available, and the size of that kitchen contributes to its presence. Without borrowing some space from adjacent rooms for a wider, larger kitchen then I would consider a G-plan with the end of the G being bench height seating with half the stools with their backs to the view, and the other half with their backs to the kitchen, as in this photo. I would engage a design professional to visit, take your brief, measure up and come back to you with a few concepts for the layout. Think hard about how important the symmetry is to your kitchen as it can really hamper creative solutions that are outside the box. It is still possible to have a Hamptons style kitchen, that has presence and is of a formal nature that is asymmetrical. The rest of your home is not symmetrical, and forcing a symmetrical design into a pre-existing space only ends in compromises to the functionality. A good design professional (not necessarily a kitchen designer) will look outside the three walls that are constraining your thinking and options to create an elegant solution, but you will need to pay for this creative service. Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls/Dr Retro Virtual Visits.